Welcome to Rensselaer! We are all thrilled to start the new year, and as the director of athletics, I want to highlight some of the excitement we hope you will participate in during the year.

First and foremost, we have many opportunities to engage in athletics and fitness across campus. Over 70% of our student body participates in intercollegiate, club or intramural programs, and we want you to be a part of the excitement. With 23 intercollegiate sports (two Division I hockey programs and 21 Division III programs), close to 50 club athletic programs and multiple intramural programs that run throughout the year, there exists an incredible variety of opportunities to become a part of the excitement and compete with friends and fellow students, staff and faculty! We also have open recreation in our athletic facilities throughout the week and encourage everyone to find time for health and fitness in whatever ways make sense for you. It is a great way to meet new friends and to help maintain balance during the upcoming challenging academic semesters.

Our varsity athletic programs compete in the Liberty League and the Eastern College Athletic Conference. The Houston Field House is home to incredible excitement each weekend once hockey season begins with the men and the women competing in the very competitive ECAC hockey league with the Ivies, Union College, Clarkson University, St. Lawrence University, Quinnipiac University and Colgate University. We have a large, passionate contingent of students who support our programs each week. Events like the Big Red Freakout!, White Out!, Greek Night, Multi-Cultural Night and many others make the events campus highlights each week! The East Campus Athletic Village, Robison Baseball and Softball Fields, Sharp Tennis Courts and Robison Pool host our other varsity events and the student body support makes a difference during their heated competitions. We need and enjoy your support!

I challenge you to get involved and participate in events that will challenge you physically and keep you engaged with your fellow students. Come out and support your RPI varsity teams—teams student-athletes will greatly appreciate your support. Lastly, have fun! You are at a premier institution with a plethora of exceptional opportunities. Take advantage of all you can—you will appreciate the life lessons that you will learn and the friends that you will make!